The River Lethes is in the town of Xinzo de Limia, which lies on the fertile valley of Antela, approximately 43 km from Ourense. The Limia passes through the town on its way south towards the Portuguese border.
As noted on the previous postcard, Xinzo is well-known for its Carnival. It is one of the longest in Spain. You may well remember that the Pantalla is the main figure of the carnival in Xinzo, and runs through the streets in groups of two or three with two swollen pig bladders in the hands making huge noise. If the pantalla finds a male relative or neighbour without a disguise, they will take him into a bar, to pay the fee for not being dressed properly, which is a glass of wine. The group of pantallas will sing a couple of traditional Galician songs while they have the glass of wine.
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| Image by Eva Pousa and Antía Pousa |
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| Image by Eva and Antía Pousa |
There is a legend connected to Xinzo. Several classical authors reproduce the myth of the loss of memory connected to crossing the Límia, referred by them as Lethes or Oblivionis. In 138 BC the Roman chieftain Decimus Junius Brutus put an end to the myth told by the Galicians when, on crossing the river, he began to call each one of his legionnaires by their names from the opposite bank. That historical fact has been now represented in an historical party called Festa do Esquecemento, which is celebrated on the third weekend of August every year.
